february • 2015 keiki cover model

I truly enjoy the beginning of a new year. Taking time to reflect on what we are thankful for and looking back to see where we have just been. Time flies when you’re having fun….

It all started in March of 2000 when I took the helm of this little monthly newsletter. I have truly enjoyed an amazing 15 years watching and reporting on Maui’s visitor industry, our guest services ‘ohana and, most importantly, all of the people who make our island community so special.

I have also experienced my sweet child, Maile Elizabeth Freeland, growing and changing before my eyes. Her first cover photo was taken for The Maui Concierge in October 2008 when she was just 18 months old. Today, she is a happy and energetic seven-year-old! I feel so fortunate to have her in my life; the past seven years have defined why I am on this planet. Being a mom is the most challenging and most rewarding job in the world. Wishing you all a fun-filled, peaceful and happy 2015!

— allyson mattox, publisher

top artists converge in lahaina: maui plein air painting invitational runs february 14-22

Beginning February 14, for the tenth year in a row, the 9-day Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational will bring together top plein air artists from Hawai‘i and the mainland to capture Maui’s Upcountry vistas, pristine beaches, majestic mountains, and historic towns.

This event, unique to Maui, brings together 25 of the finest plein air painters from Hawai‘i and the U.S. Mainland to compete, reconnect and create original works of art. The public can experience the island captured on canvas as participating artists paint on location with works honoring Maui and its culture. All events will be held in Lahaina or Kapalua.

9th annual whale tales: learn about these incredible creatures and meet renowned researchers

Curiosity, connection, and communication come together over President’s Day weekend as the public is invited to gather on Maui to network and learn from world-renowned experts in whale research.

Leading scientists, photographers, and conservationists headline the 9th Annual Whale Tales, a four-day educational and fundraising event hosted by international whale research organization Whale Trust Maui. This year’s event will highlight the role that technology plays in advancing research.